LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s economy expanded unexpectedly in May, driven by a rise in local doctor appointments and growth in other sectors although consumer-facing services fell slightly as inflation mounted, according to official figures.
Economic output grew by 0.5% in May, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday.
A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to zero growth in May from April.
Health services were a major driver of growth, the ONS said, citing “a large rise in GP appointments”.
Road hauliers also had a busy month, while travel agencies fared well with pent-up demand for holidays, the ONS said.
Over the three months to May, GDP was up by 0.4%, compared with the Reuters poll forecast of 0.0%.
The Bank of England has predicted that GDP will contract in the April-June period. Although it is expected to return to growth in the third quarter, many analysts point to the risk of the economy going into a recession later this year.
(Reporting William Schomberg; editing by William James)
